“What a Wild Wave”: Surfing Fans Left Stupefied After Big-Wave Enthusiast Rides a Minute-Long Barrel

Jul 6, 2023 | 1:03 PM EDT

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Most surfers dream of getting barrelled for one whole minute, but very few experience it. Recently a popular YouTuber and surfer amazed his viewers with a video of him doing just that. Nic Von Rupp is a lucky young man to catch the swell as it was building into a big wave. Nic was ready to record the ride of his life, and he did not disappoint.

The talented surfer often goes out to ride the waves on Skeleton Bay. He said that this place in Namibia has never let him down. Whenever he is in the mood to ride endless barrels, he knows there is only one place on earth for it.

Nic Von Riding the Wave of a Lifetime

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Nic caught the whole riding session on his GoPro. In the 10:26s long video, the real action begins at 5:40s. The clip shows a wave rising gradually behind Nic. The skilled surfer quickly realized his opportunity and started paddling with his arms. Within the next few seconds, the swell catches up to him, and we see his surfboard rising. When the barrel forms and Nic disappears into it, the wave engulfs him completely, creating a tunnel that seems to stretch forever. The experienced surfer maneuvers effortlessly within the barrel.

At one point, he outstretched his hands in a double victory sign to indicate his triumph over the powerful wave. Finally, when he came out of the barrel, another wave was already forming in front of him. Nic entered into it to continue his impressive streak. When the barrel ended and Nic emerged from the tunnel, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of achievement. The surfer paddled up to a friend and gave him a high five to celebrate the moment. The video is captioned, “POV SKELETON BAY BEST SWELL 2023 | VON FROTH” on YouTube.

Nic was, however, not done yet. He soon attempted another barrel, this time with the camera in his hands so that his whole body could be seen. His viewers were stunned as they witnessed him maintaining his balance on the board, despite the waves thrashing at his sides.

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Nic Von Rupp’s Passion for Riding Waves at Skeleton Bay

The Portuguese surfer has always wanted to experience a minute-long barrel. In an interview with an online source, he said, “As a kid I always dreamt about getting barrelled for a minute”. He got the chance to ride three barrels in Skeleton Bay, this time after two years of disappointment.

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Getting to the barrelling point is not easy, though. Nic said, “It takes us two waves and 10 minutes to surf 2.5Km, and then it’s a 20-minute walk back up the point”. But it’s worth every effort when you compare the reward.

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